| WHAT WILL THEY
THINK OF NEXT? ABU WANTS YULETILE ABOLISHED By Marian Trinidad
THE extremist Abu Sayyaf wants the
government to order veils for all female students in Patikul, Sulu, scrap the Christmas
holidays and abolish Junior-Senior proms in high school, in return for the freedom of two
Basilan teachers and a student still in their hands.
Camp Crame officials said rebels relayed the
demands to Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) Superintendent, Dr. Hadja
Army Malbun and another official, Priscilla Chang.
The latest twist in the Abu Sayyaf hostage
saga could increase criticism in Kuala Lumpur, where senior officials of the Organization
Islamic Conference (OIC) start a four-day conference today.
The official said the extremist Abu Sayyaf
rebels would be condemned for seizing 21 people from a Malaysian diving resort on April 23
and holding them ever since on Sulu.
“If they were to expect any sympathy
from the OIC ministers for their cause, they would not get it,” a senior OIC official
told the Bernama news agency.
“Instead, they will be told in no
uncertain terms that what they did is an embarrassment to Islam.”
The two officials were checking on the
conditions of student Richard Quinto and teachers Erlinda Manuel and Teresita Academia.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) report
said the two met with Abu Sayyaf commander Randullan Sahiron and an aide, identified only
as Abdullasis, in Barangay Igasan, Patikul.
The Abu Sayyaf also wants the DECS to hire Mudariz or Islamic teachers for schools in
predominantly Muslim Patikul, police added.
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